Epidemiology of blood donors infected with HBV and HCV and the residual risk of transmission of these infections through transfusion in France, 1992–2018
Since 1992, blood donor surveillance has aimed to monitor the prevalence and incidence of bloodborne infections, including those caused by hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses, as well as risk factors, and to assess the residual risk of transmitting these infections through transfusion. This article presents the results of surveillance for these two viruses over the 2016–2018 period and trends since 1992. Of the 8.8 million donations collected between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018, 493 tested positive for HBV (HBsAg and/or DNA) and 260 for HCV (anti-HCV and/or RNA). The prevalence of HBV (5.5 per 104 donors) was twice as high as that of HCV (2.6 per 104), and the incidence was four times higher (0.59 and 0.15 per 105 donor-years, respectively). Since the 1992–1994 period, prevalence has decreased fivefold for HBV and fifteenfold for HCV, while incidence has decreased tenfold and twentyfold, respectively. Originating from an endemic area is the most common risk factor for HBV (53% over the 2016–2018 period). For HCV, the most common risk factors are nosocomial exposure (41%) and drug use (19%). Over the 2016–2018 period, the residual risk was estimated at 1 in 2,850,000 donations for HBV and 1 in 34,000,000 for HCV. Since the 1992–1994 period, these risks have decreased by a factor of 30 and 170, respectively. Although the blood donor population is selected, it provides information on the general population: since 1992, the sharp decline in HCV prevalence, particularly among younger people, and the drop in incidence support the hypothesis of a decrease in HCV incidence in the general population in France. Blood donor surveillance data demonstrate that the viral safety of blood products is now very high.
Author(s): Pillonel Josiane, Boizeau Laure, Gallian Pierre, Garrabe Eliane, Chabli Lila, Morel Pascal, Laperche Syria
Publishing year: 2020
Pages: 632-639
Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2020, n° 31-32, p. 632-639
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